As the world becomes more liberal and accepting of difference, charismatic Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a controversial bill – punishing people for homosexual propaganda – into law, according to an official publication over the weekend. The new law introduces fines of up to 5,000 rubles/$AU165 for citizens who disseminate information “directed at forming non-traditional sexual setup” in minors or which may cause a “distorted understanding” that gay and heterosexual relations are “socially equivalent”, the publication showed.

Critics and civil libertarians have called the bill homophobic, saying it’s “so vaguely defined that it would inevitably be used arbitrarily against gays,” stirring hate crimes in the country.

However, the bill sailed through the parliament. Mr Putin had promised in advance that he would sign the bill.

The fines go up to as much as 200,000 rubles/$AU6,600 for officials if such “propaganda” is disseminated through the media or internet. Foreigners will not only be fined but face administrative arrest up to 15 days and eventual deportation, the law says. Organisations face fines of up to 1 million rubles and shutdown of their activity for 90 days :: Read the full article »»»»

President Obama has finally made it official, announcing that he supports same-sex marriage, reversing his longstanding opposition. In an interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts, the president described his thought process as an “evolution” that led him to this decision, based on conversations with his staff members, openly gay and lesbian service members, and his wife and daughters.

“I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors, when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together; when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married,” Obama told Robin Roberts in an interview on ABC’sGood Morning America

The president stressed that this is a personal position, and that he still supports the concept of states’ deciding the issue on their own. But he said he’s confident that more Americans will grow comfortable with gays and lesbians getting married, citing his own daughters’ comfort with the concept.

So the big thing – globally – seems to be gay marriage, here in Australia Bob Katter is still pulling his foot from his mouth after bungling bigtime with those TV commercials. New York has said YES, Julia Gillard is on the fence. The Catholic Church is clearly not bending on it, the Presbyterian’s ordained their first gay minister in October 2011 and apparently US President Barack Obama is all for it…

OK, the dust has settled on the Queensland election, seems that Queenslander’s don’t take as much notice of Television Ads as Bob Katter had hoped . . .

[youtube video]

[youtube video]

Mr Katters Australian Party didn’t exactly get whitewashed, infact for a first-time-at-the-polls-party, they did admirably.

Katters Australian Party Polled a nudge over 11.5% of the state vote, half that of the outgoing ALP’s 26%

None of these dull numbers is actually what this post is about. A few weeks ago we ran Mr Katters Anti Gay Marriage TV ad (above), The youtube video went slightly ballistic, the comments however, are off the Richter! Read the full article »»»»

Australian right-wing politician Bob Katter’s gay half-brother Carl Katter has condemned the Federal MP for an advertising campaign attacking gay marriage. Katter’s Australian Party launched television commercials last night to put pressure on Queensland Liberal National Party leader Campbell Newman, who supports gay marriage.

The TV ad features a colour photo of a smiling nuclear family followed by a black-and-white image of an older man and younger man holding each other, with repeated grabs of Mr Newman saying: “I support gay marriage.”

Carl Katter says he finds the ads offensive. He said that he initially thought the ads were fake, a joke. He said he was more concerned about the damage that they can facilitate in regional areas for gay and lesbian youth. “But I mean it’s also a great indication that this fledgling party are trying desperately to steal the conservative vote, but I think it’s going to backfire.” Read the full article »»»»